I’m using Calluna for a large display font in the header of a site, Georgia for some smaller headers and Verdana for the main text. I think it looks fine, but is using fonts as similar as Georgia and Calluna on the same page some kind of faux pas? I’d have used @font-face and not used Georgia at all but Calluna is quite fine and not very readable at smaller sizes.
What do you think?
Thanks
you better check Peroidic Table of Typefaces (fonts) it’s really cool. Those are the best choices of fonts
Form an ART DIRECTION point of view THAT IS HORRIBLE!!! As bad as when a “designer” ( real designers actually DONT do this) decides that artsy or edgy is using as many Photoshop filters and effects as possible.
Pick 2-3 font families and stick with them.
#1 . The more font families you mash up the more the likelyhood the user wiull be missing one of them
#2. if using webfont, you are adding THAT MUCH MORE bloat to the d/l time
#3. It looks buys
#4. When designing for the web, what you mentioned is good tor what is termed as “STACKING” .someClass{font-family: Arial, helvetica , san-serif}. In this case you want to stack a list of VERY similar styled, modulated, weighed fonts… so that if the user doesn’t have your first choice your plan B-Z choices are essentially just as good. ( but when you use @font face you are serving the font file… so this can be is a moot point )
#5. The method you describes emotes “indecision”. When Choosing your (2 or 3) font families pick them based on contrast. using Helvetica and Arial as alternating header fonts just makes the reader have that feeling of “hey there is something ‘off’ here but i cant put my finger on it…”, the typographic equivalent of seasickness.
On the same point, choosing SLIGHTLY similar, but distinct fonts can convey subtlety, a too tone of voice. Using VERY dissimilar font can convey “aggressive” confidence.
I hope this help with you t font quandary.